Case Number 24143

Altered States (Blu-ray)

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All Rise...

Judge Clark Douglas is in the process of de-evolving into a tax attorney.

The Charge

The most terrifying experiment in the history of science is out of
control…and the subject is himself.

Opening Statement

"I'm not gonna listen to any more of your Kabbalistic, quantum, friggin'
dumb limbo mumbo jumbo!"

Facts of the Case

Eddie Jessup (William Hurt, A
History of Violence) was once an immensely promising scientist, but in
recent years he's failed to live up to his potential. He's been coasting on his
reputation for quite some time, and his relationship with his wife Emily (Blair
Brown, Fringe) has crumbled to the point that
they've finally decided to separate. Suddenly, Eddie makes a break-through: he
spends some time in an isolation chamber and employs a hallucinatory drug that
may or may not have caused him to temporarily regress genetically. In other
words, he began the process of de-evolving. Eager to learn more, Eddie plunges
headfirst into a series of dangerous experiments. It's clear that the man is on
the verge of answering some big questions, but at what cost?

The Evidence

There's a scene late in Ken Russell's Altered States in which The Life
Form Formerly Known as Eddie Jessup flips recklessly between a horrifyingly
primal state and a more ordinary modern human state. He achieves this effect
simply by violently flinging himself against a wall as if he's mashing some kind
of genetic switch. It's an apt visual metaphor for the film itself, which makes
improbable things work simply through sheer force of will. Russell takes a
fundamentally silly concept, hurls lightning bolts at it, and transforms it into
something unexpectedly exhilarating. There have been numerous occasions in which
Russell's predilection for unchecked excess have been a liability, but
Altered States proves a perfect outlet for the director's manic energy.
This sublime marriage of director and material produces an unforgettable
cinematic experience.

Of course, the creator of the original story didn't feel that way. Paddy
Chayefsky famously disowned the film, angered by the manner in which Russell had
treated his thoughtful tale. There's a great deal of pseudo-scientific
mumbo-jumbo uttered throughout the film, but Russell's masterstroke was to have
the scientists in the film excitedly shout this information at each other rather
than working it into more measured conversations. Most of this is almost
verbatim from Chayefsky's writing, but the tone has shifted dramatically. Many
science-fiction films invite us to carefully consider their ideas. This one
recognizes how fundamentally ridiculous its ideas are and instead wants to sweep
us up in their chaotic wondrousness. The film careens along at such a frantic
pace that we don't have time to think about the questionable science at the
story's core. It swallows us up in its thunderstorm of horror, science, romance,
agony and ecstasy. The viewing experience goes something like this:

Movie: "We have trillions of dormant genes lurking within us, and if we
figure out how to tap into them we could potentially undo millions of years of
human evolution in an instant!"

Viewer: "Come on, that's ridic…"

Movie: "Everyone thought Eddie Jessup was ridiculous too, but now he's
transforming into some ape-like being! His primal state has begun to take over!
Look at those horrific monkey-feet!"

Movie: "THE ONLY THING THAT CAN STOP THIS INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED
PROCESS IS RAW EMOTION AND PHYSICAL FORCE! MORE STROBE LIGHTS!"

Viewer: "FLING YOURSELF AGAINST THE WALL, EDDIE! HARDER!"

It's easy to grow exhausted watching some of Russell's films, but Altered
States does a good job of trimming fat and remaining involving for its
entire duration. I suppose there is a different film to be made of Chayefsky's
novel, one that takes the ideas at its core a good deal more seriously and
emphasizes thoughtful conversation over visual excess. However, I have a
suspicion that such a version of the story might feel a bit like
"Genesis," that involving but ultimately chuckle-inducing de-evolution
themed episode of Star Trek: The Next
Generation. Russell's approach works tremendously well, and he actually does
demonstrate some self-control and nuance when the film requires it.

Altered States was the acting debut of the great William Hurt, who
makes a terrific impression in his first lead role. Hurt is excellent as the
intellectual, detached Eddie Jessup, selling some difficult moments with his
near-religious conviction. Hurt is particularly good during the scenes in which
he demonstrates a perceptive-yet-oblivious disconnect with the feelings of those
around him: "Emily's quite content to go on with this life. She insists
that she's in love with me—whatever that is. What she means is she prefers
the senseless pain we inflict on each other to the pain we would otherwise
inflict on ourselves. But I'm not afraid of that solitary pain. In fact, if I
don't strip myself of all this clatter and clutter and ridiculous ritual, I
shall go out of my #$%@&*! mind." The movie might be nonsensical when it
comes to scientific concepts, but it's quite good when dealing with human beings
attempt to cope with their emotions and relationships (which is what the whole
thing is actually all about, anyway—it could be argued that in Russell's
version of the story, all of the sci-fi material is simply metaphorical).

Hurt is backed by a strong supporting cast, with Blair Brown in particular
doing excellent work as his affectionate yet wounded wife. Brown nails the blend
of skepticism and empathy the role requires, and her work goes a long way
towards making us care about the film's central relationship (particularly since
Hurt is required to be so aloof for much of the film's running time). Elsewhere,
Bob Balaban (Gosford Park) and Charles
Haid (Hill Street Blues) are
slyly hilarious as the scientists constantly supporting/defying/bickering with
Eddie.

Altered States (Blu-ray) doesn't look as spectacular as I would like,
but still receives a pretty respectable 1080p/1.85:1 transfer. The film is
intentionally rather dark and grimy-looking, so thankfully black levels are
satisfactorily deep throughout. The film's natural grain structure has been left
intact, so the image looks quite warm despite its slightly flat nature. Detail
is exceptional, though the only liability is that some of the practical effects
employed in the film look slightly cheesier in hi-def. There's a good deal of
softness, but much of that is built into the film. The DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio
track is quite aggressive for a film of this age, with wild sound design and a
riveting John Corigliano score joining force to raise an intellectually-charged
ruckus. Dialogue doesn't fare quite as well—it seems a shade muffled at
times—but the levels are good and nothing is incomprehensible. The only
bonus feature is a theatrical trailer.

Closing Statement

Altered States is one of the great science-fiction films of the 1980s
and arguably Ken Russell's finest work. Exhilarating and surprisingly moving,
the film delivers an sensational audiovisual experience which is highly
recommended for adventurous viewers.